Method of, and device for, orienting open-mouthed receptacles arriving in a continuous row of horizontally disposed receptacles

ABSTRACT

Horizontally disposed continuously arriving receptacles are successively grasped by their mouths and swung to the right or left, depending on the mouth orientation, through a 90* arc into vertical upended position and deposited to form two discontinuous parallel lines in which presence of a receptacle in one line is matched by a gap in the other line. Both lines are advanced to a zone of merger where a single continuous line of receptacles results.

United States Patent Zabroski et al.

[ 51 Apr. 25, 1972 [54] METHOD OF, AND DEVICE FOR,

ORIENTING OPEN-MOUTHED RECEPTACLES ARRIVING IN A CONTINUOUS ROW OFHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED RECEPTACLES [72] Inventors: Frank Zabroski, 7Hadley Way, Convent Station, NJ. 07961; Walter McDonald, 558 Dell Road,Landing, NJ. 07850; Anthony P. Plano, Jr., 57 Westgate Drive, Sparta,NJ. 07871; Norbert J. Seitel, 45 Gillette Road, Meyersville, NJ.

[22] Filed: June 12, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 45,656

[52] U.S. Cl ..198/33 AC' [51] Int. Cl ..B65g 47/24 [58] Field of Search..l98/33 AC, 179; l34/l26 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,105,585 10/1963 Leach ..l98/33 AC X Primary ExaminerEdward A. SrokaAttorney-Rowland V. Patrick [57] ABSTRACT Horizontally disposedcontinuously arriving receptacles are successively grasped by theirmouths and swung to the right or left, depending on the mouthorientation, through a 90 are into vertical upended position anddeposited to form two discontinuous parallel lines in which presence ofa receptacle in one line is matched by a gap in the other line. Bothlines are advanced to a zone of merger where a single continuous line ofreceptacles results.

10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented April 25; 1912 3,658,168

'7 Sheets-Sheet 1 I N VliNlOR.

' F ank lab/08H By v Wa/fer McDona/d M W Anf/zony Pi Piano, Jr. l

(i-M Attorney Ala/"bent J: 58

Patented April 25, 1972 3,658,168

7 Sheets-Sheet 5 INV/LN'IUR.

Fran/r Zabros/v' By Wa/fer McDafla/d METHOD OF, AND DEVICE FOR,ORIENTING OPEN- MOUTHED RECEPTACLES ARRIVING IN A CONTINUOUS ROW OFHORIZONTALLY DISPOSED RECEPTACLES BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Automatedlines for the filling of hollow receptacles, such as bottles or jars,demand an uninterrupted supply of receptacles. Interruptions of, orirregularities in, the continuity necessitate a correspondinginterruption of the operation of the filling and packaging machinery.

Machines have been designed capable of delivering receptaclescontinuously in a row in which the receptacles are horizontallydisposed, their ends aligned, but not oriented in that the mouths ofsome receptacles point in one, and the mouths of other receptacles pointin the opposite direction.

Automatic devices are known which orient open-mouthed receptacles byupending them. The known devices, as far as we are aware, are notcapable of meeting high demand rates of the order of several hundredreceptacles per minute.

Plastic receptacles, for example plastic bottles, present difficultiesin handling because of their light total weight, their light weight inrelation to volumetric size, their deformability while empty and theirlimited resistance to tipping over.

A method and device for the orienting of receptacles at high outputrates therefore should be one in which the receptacles are positivelyhandled through all the steps or phases of operation necessary toproduce a continuous uninterrupted output line of high capacity.

A method and device for the orienting of receptacles should further bereadily adaptable to changes in dimensions, volumetric capacity andnature of the receptacles. For example, it should be capable of handlingbottles and jars of various shapes interchangeably, as well as large andsmall sizes thereof.

The present improvements are based on the recognition that the aforesaiddemands are best met by positively handling the receptacles by theirmouths or necks by appropriate oppositely disposed chucks which graspand release the receptacles at the proper moments and locations. Theoperations of grasping and releasing will for convenience hereinafter besometimes referred to as closing and opening of a chuck. This isliterally true of chucks engaging an outside surface, for example theoutside of a bottle neck, but the terms will also be used in connectionwith chucks of the expansible mandrel variety which engage an insidesurface, for example the inside of the neck ofa bottle.

In carrying out our objective, and starting with a row of continuouslyarriving receptacles disposed horizontally, for example in compartmentsof a conveyor comprising preferably a vertical downward moving portion,the receptacles are successively grasped by their necks or mouths, swungthrough a 90 arc to the right, or to the left, depending on the previousorientation of their mouths or necks. Simultaneously the receptacles arecarried away from the pickup point or station. When in vertical positionthey are released by the respective chucks and form two lines, bothlines being discontinuous in the sense that presence of a receptacle ata particular point in one line is matched by a vacancy at thecorresponding point in the other line. Advance of the receptacles alongthe lines toward a point of merger, while maintaining the irregularitiesin the spacing of the receptacles in each line, produces a continuousunbroken output line downstream of the point of merger.

Throughout all phases of their movement the receptacles are positivelyguided and move with great rapidity, precision and continuity.

The objects, features and advantages of this invention will appear morefully from the detailed description which follows accompanied bydrawings showing, for the purpose of illustration, a preferredembodiment of the invention.

The invention also resides in certain new and original features ofconstruction and combination of elements, as well as certain steps andsequences of steps-hereinafter set forth and claimed.

Although the characteristic features of this invention which arebelieved to be novel will be particularly pointed out in the claimsappended hereto, the invention itself, its objects and advantages, andthe manner in which it may be carried out may be better understood byreferring to the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings forming a part of it, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the top portion of a device for carryingout the method;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, on a larger scale, of the delivery stationof a transport mechanism furnishing plastic bottles and of the pickupstation, respectively, of the device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective upward view of the underside of the deviceshowing bottles in the process of being upended;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the underside of the machine showing twolines of upended bottles moving toward the viewer;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the delivery lane of the device;

FIG. 6 is a perspective side view illustrating adjustability of thedevice for receptacles of difierent height;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a representative form of chuck assembly;and

FIG. 8 is a perspective exploded view of the assembly of FIG. 7.

In the following description and in the claims various details will beidentified by specific names for convenience. The names, however, areintended to be generic in their application. Corresponding referencecharacters refer to corresponding parts in the several figures of thedrawings.

The drawings accompanying, and forming part of, this specificationdisclose specific details of construction for the purpose of explanationof broader aspects of the invention, but it should be understood thatstructural details may be modified in various respects without departurefrom the principles of the invention and that the invention may beincorporated in other structural forms than shown.

It is further understood that whatever is stated in the followingdescription with respect to bottles applies equally to other forms ofempty receptacles such as jars, tubes, etc.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The device shown in FIG. 1 comprisestwo chain conveyors generally designated 11 and 12. The conveyors arelaterally spaced from each other and are trained around sprocket wheelsl3, 14, 15 and 16, whose shafts 17 and 18 are horizontal and aresupported in a base 19. This causes the conveyor chains to travel invertical planes.

Preferably, each conveyor comprises two parallel chains designated 111,211 and 112, 212. The chain pairs provide great stability for assembliesmounted thereon, later to be described. Obviously, single chains,appropriately stabilized against lateral tilting, may be employed inplace of the chain pairs.

The conveyors in FIG. 1 move from right to left, the visible portionsbeing a portion of the return run. The return run is followed at theleft by a substantially vertical portion 28 passing a pickup station 29,later to be described. The chains then follow a substantially horizontalcourse to the right, the later portion being obscured by the base 19 inthis figure but being visible in FIG. 3.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a supply conveyor is visible at the leftcomprising chains 20 passing over sprocket wheels 21, 22 and carryingtroughs or compartments 23 whose forward lip 24 is inverted.

Thesupply conveyor 20, 23 has previously carried bottles 25 on an upwardcourse in its troughs in a position in which the trough lips pointedupwardly. The supply conveyor then passed through a zone of maximumelevation (located higher than, and to the left of, FIG. 2) where thetroughs were inverted and each bottle moved by gravity from the troughin which it had been resting onto the'bottom of theinverted trough aheadof it. An appropriate vertical retaining rail 26 extending across theface of the troughs (FIG. 2) prevents bottles from being thrown out ofthe compartments at high operating speeds.

The bottles are horizontally disposed in the compartments, buttheirorientation is not uniform in that (proceeding from top to bottom) thenecks of the first, third and fourth bottles face the viewer, while theneck of the second faces away from the viewer.

The chain conveyors ll, 12 are fitted with a series of chuck assembliesgenerally designated 30.

The assemblies 30 of the far conveyor 11 in FIG. 1 are pointed towardsthe viewer and the assemblies of the conveyor 12 point in the oppositedirection.

Each assembly (see also FIG. 8) comprises a base 31 fastened to the twochains (for example 112, 212) so as to extend parallel to the link pinsof the chains or, in other words, to extend substantially horizontallywithin the horizontal run portion of the conveyor.

Each base comprises two arms 32 between which a tilt body 33 is tiltablysupported on pivots 34. The pivot axis extends substantially parallel tothe chain portion to which the respective base is attached andtransverse to the axis of a stem 35 guided in a bore 36 of the. tiltbody for longitudinal movement with respect to the tilt body.

The stem carries a cross head 37 at one end and a chuck 38 at the other.

The cross head 37 (FIG. 7) comprises a gimbal base 39 which is tiltableabout a gimbal axis 40 and carries two rollers 41. The gimbal base 39and the rollers 41 thereon are therefore tiltable with respect to theaxis of the stem 35. The specific form of construction of the chuck isoptional and different designs exist or may be developed for grasping areceptacle by its neck.

The illustrated form of chuck 38 comprises a slotted mandrel 42 withinthe slots 43 of which a pair of blades 44 are disposed whose exposededges 45 are serrated and represent the jaws of the chuck.

The chuck is actuated by longitudinal displacement of the stem 35 withrespect to the tilt body beyond certain limits.

At this point it will be sufficient to state that the chuck actuatingmechanism which is disposed within the hollow stem 35 comprises a crosspin or bolt 46 extending transversely to the stem axis. The pin isdisplaceable against the action of a spring in the direction of thecross head 37 within limits permitted bya relatively short slot 47 inthe stem. Such displacement closes the chuck by extending the blades 44laterally.

The shot slot 47 in the stem 35 is aligned with a longer slot 48 in thetilt body 33, and the cross pin 46 is long enough to engage the end ofthe slot 48 in the tilt body.

In the position shown in FIG. 8 the pin 46 abuts the forward ends ofboth slots. Longitudinal displacement of the stem towards-the leftcauses the pin, which is arrested by the front end of the tilt bodyslot, to be displaced towards the cross head to actuate the blades 44.

The chucks 38 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are projected and retracted, opened orclosed, and are tilted in relation to their respective bases 31 by aguide rod which is mounted alongside the course of each of the conveyorsl1 and 12. The guide rod 49 is appropriately curved so as to approachthe respective conveyor chain, or move away from it, respectively,thereby projecting or retracting the respective chuck within the limitspermitted by the long slot 48 in the tilt member 33, and to close oropen the chuck by axial displacement of the stem 35 beyond the limits ofthe slot 48.

Further the chuck is tilted by changes in the level of the guide rodrelatively to the level of the conveyor chains, as will laterbedescribed in greater detail with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

The conveyor chains 11 and 12 are so spaced and mounted as to cause thechucks 38 to straddle the bottles within the pickup station 29. Further,the chains 11, 12 and the chucks 38 are so timed with respect to thecompartments of the supply conveyor 20 for example by a common drive asto cause the chucks 38 to fall in line with the axes of the bottles.

As a result of this arrangement each bottle 25 comes to lie between twochucks within the pickup station, one chuck being directed against thebottle bottom 25, the other chuck being directed towards the bottlemouth.

The guide rod 49 alongside the conveyor 12 is a mirror image of acorresponding guide rod alongside the conveyor 1 1. Opposed chuck pairstherefore perform identical motions, but in opposite directions. Theyeither advance towards, or retreat from, each other. In the fullyadvanced position both chucks close, in the sense of projecting therespective serrated blades 44.

In the position shown in FIG. 2 the stem of the upper of the twovertically disposed chuck assemblies is being projected and strikes thebottom 27 of the bottle which thereupon moves to the left to meet theopposite chuck of conveyor 11 halfway, which then enters the bottleneck. One of the chucks of the conveyor 11 is visible to the right ofthe topmost bottle in FIG. 2.

The third bottle, counting from thetop in FIG. 2, was displaced towardsthe viewer by the far chuck of conveyor 11 which engaged the bottlebottom, and the near chuck of conveyor 11 entered the neck and graspedthe bottle.

It will be noted that the cross pin 46 is in the end position in theslot 48 in response to the extreme displacement of the chuck stem 35 tothe left. The amounts of the stem displacement are apparent from acomparison of the length of the exposed stem portions at the severalpositions.

The third bottle from the top in FIG. 2 is positively held by the chuckand the supply conveyor 20, 23 which carried the bottle to this point isabout to move about sprocket wheel 22, thereby fanning out the troughs23 as they move about the wheel 22 on an arc. This releases the bottlesfrom the compartments.

The fourth bottle from the top in FIG. 2 is being carried away to thelower right from a position to the side of conveyor 12 into a positionbelow the conveyor.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show bottles in position below the conveyors. Forconvenient identification successive bottles in FIG. 4 are marked bydots.

The bottle marked by a single dot is the fourth bottle from the top inFIG. 2. The axis of the bottle bearing two dots has assumed a tilt of 30with respect to the horizontal.

The bottle bearing three dots had been reversely oriented at the pickupstation and was grasped by a chuck of the right conveyor 11. Thecorresponding chuck of the left conveyor is visible at the right of thechuck which just released the fourth bottle. The empty chuck of the leftconveyor has the same, but opposite, angular inclination of the chuckholding the third bottle and its chuck blades are extended.

The fourth chuck of the right conveyor 11 between the third and fifthbottle is vacant, but the fourth bottle was carried by the left conveyorwhich just released it.

After release of the bottles, the stems of the chucks are retracted bythe guide rail 49 which moves to points of greater distance from thetilt axes 34. Simultaneously the guide rail (see also FIG. 3) moves tolower points causing uptilting of the tilt bodies which gradually assumea parallel position with respect to the bases (FIG. 4). The chuckassemblies then return to the pickup station (FIG. 1).

FIG. 3 illustrates also the successive positions of the cross pins 46during closing and opening of the chucks and retraction of the stems 35.The spring previously mentioned which biases the cross pin is visible inone assembly at 78.

The released bottles (FIG. 4) are deposited on a flat support 50 betweenlateral guides forming lanes. The lanes have three distinct portions.

The lanes first run parallel to each other at 51 and 52 and the bottlesare released into the parallel lane portions which have the same spacingas the opposite chuck assemblies of conveyors 11 and 12. The lanesconverge at 53, 54 downstream of the bottle release zone and meet at apoint of merger 55 from which a single output lane 56 continues.

The deposited bottles are moved to the point of merger 55 at equal ratesby a suitable transport device. The illustrated device comprisesparallel transport bars 57 propelled by two conveyors, one on eitherside of the centrally disposed single delivery lane 56.

As both of the conveyors of identical construction it will suffice todescribe the one shown in FIG. 5.

Transport chains 58 have brackets 59 attached to them through whichlateral slide rods 60 extend. The transport bars 57 comprise angularmounting bases clamped to one end of the slide rods 60 which are biasedby a spring 61 tending to move the rod 60 and bar 57 to the right. Theright end of the rod is fitted with a roller 63 hearing against a camtrack 62.

The cam track 62 continues rearwardly below the support table 50 and isso curved as to cause the ends of opposite transport bars to move inclose proximity within the parallel and converging track portions and toseparate gradually at the point of merger 55 where bottles are releasedby the transport bars and are transported farther by a driven tabletoptype conveyor 64 which carries them away to the right.

The output of bottles is continuous, without gaps in the supply andthere is no crowding or jamming of bottles.

The order of the bottles shown in FIG. 5 represents a later phase thanis shown in FIG. 4. In FIG. 5 two fully visible bottles entered theoutput lane 56. The third bottle is about to move into the gap existingin front of three bottles ap proaching in lane 54. The gap behind thethree bottles will be filled in the output lane by the single bottle inlane 51 which, in turn, will be followed by the last bottle in lane 52.

Adjustment for Receptacle Height FIG. 6 illustrates one manner in whichthe device may be adjusted to receptacles of different height. A tallbottle 25 and a short bottle 125 are shown.

From a consideration of the function of the mechanism of FIG. 2 it isreadily seen that a changeover to a shorter bottle requires a closerspacing of the opposite chuck mandrels 38.

This may be accomplished basically in one of two ways.

The chuck-carrying conveyors l1 and 12 may be moved closer together, inthe case of a shorter bottle, or farther apart in the case of a tallerbottle. In the present case each carrying conveyor assembly would bemoved toward the other by an amount equal to the height h of a spacerblock 79 shown in FIG. 6 for the purpose of illustrating the need for,and the extent of, such adjustment. In order to permit horizontaladjustment, the horizontal gear shafts and the horizontal connectingbars between the vertical outer plates of the base would be constructedto permit telescoping adjustment.

If horizontal adjustment is chosen, the length of the chuck stemsremains unchanged.

On the other hand, the spacing of the conveyor assemblies ll, 12 may bekept constant and the length of the chuck stems be adjusted. The latterform of adjustment is illustrated in the drawings.

The chuck stems are for this purpose constructed of telescopingportions, an inner stem portion 235 telescopically slidable within anouter stem portion 135 and clamped thereto by a clamp ring 66.

Assuming the two bottles differ in height by 4 inches, it is necessaryto lengthen each chuck stem by 2 inches in order to obtain the properspacing of the chuck pairs at the pickup station 29.

In addition, distance between the table surface 50 and thechuck-carrying conveyors must also be adjusted by an amount equal to thelengthening of each chuck stem. The necessity for the latter adjustmentis illustrated by FIG. 6 showing the table 50 at its proper height forthe bottle 25 and showing a shorter bottle 125 placed on a block 79 of aheight h which raises the bottle to the proper position in relation tothe extended chuck and stem assembly above the short bottle. The heighth of the block 79 is also equal to the amount by which the correspondingchuck stem was extended. The surface 50 must therefore be raised to theupper level of the block 79 when bottles 125 are being handled.Alternatively, the conveyor assembly 11, 12 may be lowered with respectto the surface 50 by the same amount.

In order to effect the required adjustment, the surface 50, thetransport bar conveyor 57, 58 and the track guides above the table maybe constructed as a vertically adjustable subassembly, movable up anddown with respect to the chuck conveyors ll, 12 and their support 19.

In installations where a change in the height of the surface 50 is notpermissible, because of the construction of particular transport andfilling devices at the end of the surface, the height of the surface 50may be kept constant and the conveyor assembly ll, 12 be adjustedvertically in relation to the surface.

A brief consideration will indicate the need for an additionaladjustment of the two major units in relation to each other, the unitsupplying the bottles and the units orienting them.

Lowering of the conveyor assembly 11, 12 causes the pickup point to belowered within the pickup station. This then requires a correspondingadvance of the bottle. supplying conveyor 20.

Chuck Assembly Construction Referring to FIG. 8 an inner stern portion235 fits telescopically inside the outer stem portion 135 whose ends areslotted at and are contractable by means of clamp rings 66 (FIG. 8).

The right clamp ring clamps the tube 135 to a central boss 67 on thecross head 37. The left clamp ring clamps the outer tube 135 to theinner tube 235.

In making a length adjustment is is necessary also to adjust theposition of the cross pin 46 by means of which the chuck is opened andclosed.

The two chuck blades 44 have diagonal internal slots 68 in them and areslidably held in the forked end 69 of a rod 70. A pin 71 extends throughthe forked rod and the blade slots.

A backup piece 72 of slippery material, such as tetrafluoroethylenepolymer, also known by the trade name Teflon," lies between the rearedges of the blade 44 and the end of the fork slot. This backup piece 72normally is seated in a transverse notch 73 in the end of the tube 235and is held in place by a threaded cap 74 which also engages a rearflange 75 of the mandrel when placed against a terminal threaded flange76 on the end of the tube 235.

The rod has a stiff wire tail 77 attached to it onto which the cross pin46 is normally clamped. A helical spring 78 bearing with one end againstthe boss 67 and with its other end against the cross pin 46 tends topush the rod 70 to the lefi.

As was previously stated the blades 44 are distended into bottlegrasping position by movement of the cross pin 46 and stem 70 to theright. This draws the right vertical edge of the blades against thebackup piece 72 and forces the serrated edges 45 to move outwardly intoa protruding position with respect to the mandrel core 42.Simultaneously the spring 78 is tensioned.

After release of the cross pin 46 the spring forces the rod 70 to theleft. The left vertical edges of the blades are guided by the forwardedge of the slot 43 in the mandrel core and the blades are thereforeforced into a position of lesser spacing of their serrated edges 45.

When making an adjustment in the length of the stem 35 it is necessaryfirst to loosen the cross pin 46 from the wire tail 77, whereafter thetubes are moved into an adjusted length position. During the adjustmentthe wire tail following the tube 235 moves relatively to the cross pin46 which is guided in the short slot 47 of the outer tube 135. After thelength adjustment of the stem, the cross pin is retightened in itsnormal position at the left end of the slot 47.

It should be quite evident that the receptacle gripping chucks may bedifi'erent specific design than the chucks shown in the drawings.

Output Rate Adjustment The output of the device may be increased ordecreased by operating the device at a faster or slower rate.

A machine originally constructed for a relatively low output rate andfitted with only one-half of the number of chuck assemblies, omittingevery other assembly, may have its output doubled, when the need arises,by installation of the omitted assemblies.

The same basic machine construction therefore permits coverage of a widerange of output rates from less than 100 bottles per minute to over 500by a corresponding choice of the number of chuck assemblies andoperating speeds.

SUMMARY OF OPERATION Receptacles 25 continuously arriving at a pickupstation 29 (FIG. 1) are endwisely approached by pairs of chucks 38, oneof which engages the receptacle bottom 25 and pushes the receptacle inthe direction of its mouth while the opposite chuck of the pair entersthe mouth, grasps the receptacle, swings it on an outward downward arcof about 90 to upend it (FIG. 4).

The upended receptacles are deposited in parallel lines 51, 52 (FIG. 4),travel along tracks 53, 54, are merged at 55, and are carried away in asingle lane 56 (FIG. 5) into which the receptacles feed without dangerof jamming at the point of merger 55.

What is claimed is:

1. Method of orienting open-mouthed receptacles arriving successively ina continuous row in horizontal position, parallel to one another andtheir ends aligned, the mouths of cer-v tain receptacles pointing in onedirection, the mouths of other receptacles pointing in the oppositedirection, the method comprising, passing the row of successivereceptacles between two parallel series of successive chucks of equalspacing as the receptacles, the chucks being arranged in pairs, thechucks of each pair being axially aligned with each other and oppositelydirected to face the receptacles therebetween, the axes of successivepairs of chucks being aligned with the axes of a plurality of successivereceptacles, simultaneously moving both chucks of a pair towards eachother by equal distances sufficiently far for the one chuck of the pairto contact the bottom of the receptacle and advance the receptacle inthe direction of its mouth and for the other chuck of the pair to enterthe mouth of the last named receptacle; actuating the entered chuck tograsp said receptacle; then pivoting said entered chuck and receptaclejointly about a horizontal axis transverse to the receptacle axis :toeffect upending of the receptacle while simultaneously moving saidreceptacle to points distant from the point of insertion of the chuck;and finally releasing the receptacle from said chuck at a distant point.

2. Method of orienting open'mouthed receptacles arriving in acontinuously moving row in which the receptacles are horizontallydisposed, parallel to one another and their ends aligned, the receptaclemouths of certain receptacles of the row pointing in one direction,other. receptacles pointing in the opposite direction, the methodcomprising passing two series of chucks disposed to straddle the rows ofreceptacles between them, the chucks of said two series being arrangedin oppositely directed pairs to point towards the said rows ofreceptacles moving between them, the rate and direction of advance ofthe chucks along their paths being substantially equal to the rate anddirection of advance of said receptacles, at least within one portion inwhich the axes of certain successive receptacles are aligned with theaxes of certain pairs of chucks straddling said certain receptacles;advancing said certain chucks toward each other by equal distances andfar enough to effect longitudinal displacement of the receptacle in thedirection of its mouth by one chuck which engages the receptacle bottom,and entry into the receptacle mouth by the opposite chuck; activatingthe inserted chuck to grasp the receptacle; then pivoting the insertedchuck and the respective receptacle jointly about a substantiallyhorizontal axis transverse to the chuck axis to upend one receptacle,and simultaneously moving said receptacle to points distant from thepoint of chuck insertion; and finally releasing the receptacle from saidchuck at a distant point.

3. The method of orienting open-mouthed receptacles arrivingsuccessively in a continuous row in horizontal position,

parallel to one another, the ends of the receptacles being aligned, themouth of certain receptacles pointing in one direction, the mouth ofother receptacles pointing in the opposite direction, the methodcomprising, successively displacing each receptacle of the row in thedirection of its mouth, then grasping in succession each receptacleby'its mouth; then pivoting the grasped receptacle about a horizontalaxis transverse to the receptacle axis, the direction of tilt of thebottle whose mouth faces in one direction being clockwise, the directionof tilt of the bottle whose mouth faces in the op-. posite directionbeing counterclockwise, the tilt angle being substantially so as toupend the receptacle; releasing and collecting in one lane thereceptacles having been pivoted clockwisely; releasing and depositing ina second lane, spaced from the first lane, the receptacles having beenpivoted counterclockwisely; advancing in both lanes the receptaclesdeposited therein at the same linear rate while maintaining theirregular spaces between successive bottles in each lane; and finallymerging the two lanes into one.

4. The method defined in claim 3 in which the-pivoting directions aresuch as to effect movement of the bottoms of oppositely orientedreceptacles away from each other.

5. Method of orienting open-mouthed receptacles arriving in acontinuously moving row in which the receptacles are horizontallydisposed, parallel, spaced from one another and their ends aligned, themouths of certain receptacles being directed opposite the mouths ofother receptacles, the method comprising, moving a series of pairs ofmandrels alongside the row of receptacles, such as to provide a pair foreach recepta cle, one mandrel of a pair being directed against thereceptacle bottom, the other mandrel of the pair being directed againstthe mouth, said pairs and the receptacles between them being advanced atthe same linear rate in a direction normal to the receptacle axis, thenmoving the mandrels of each pair towards each other sufiiciently far tomake the distance between the mandrels of the pair less than thedistance of the receptacle mouth from its bottom to effect axialdisplacement of the receptacle in the direction of advance of themandrel acting on the bottom; actuating the mandrels to grasp thereceptacle by the neck, swinging the mouth-engaging mandrel and thereceptacle jointly into a vertical position, and finally releasing thereceptacle from the vertically disposed mandrel.

6. A device for upending open-mouthed receptacles arriving at a pickupstation in a continuous row in horizontal position, parallel to oneanother and their ends aligned, the mouths of certain receptacles beingdirected oppositely to the mouths of other receptacles in the row, thedevice comprising a pair of laterally spaced chain conveyors trainedabout sprocket wheels having a horizontal axis; a plurality ofreceptacle chucks mounted on each of said two conveyors, the chucksbeing arranged in pairs, one chuck of a pair being mounted on oneconveyor and normally directed toward the other conveyor, the otherchuck of the pair mounted on the other conveyor being normally directedtowards said one 1 chuck and aligned therewith, each chuck being mountedon the respective conveyor with freedom of longitudinal displacement inthe direction of the chuck axis and with freedom to tilt about a tiltaxis transverse to the chuck axis to bring the axes of the chuck pairsinto vertical position; means for actuating each chuck to grasp andrelease, respectively, a receptacle at its mouth; said conveyors beingso disposed as to straddle said pickup station to bring the axes ofcertain chuck pairs, while in their normal horizontal position, intoaxial alignment with receptacles within said pickup station; meansresponsive to the position of the chuck pairs along the conveyor pathfor actuating said chucks; and means responsive to the position of thechuck pairs along the conveyor path for tilting the chucks, the sequenceof action of said responsive means being to effect closing of the chuckat said station, tilting of the chuck into vertical position, opening ofthe chuck, and tilting of the chuck into horizontal position, saidconveyors being so disposed as to straddle said pickup station to bringthe axes of certain chuck pairs, while in their normal horizontalposition,

into axial alignment with receptacles within said pickup station.

7. A device for upending open-mouthed receptacles arriving at a pickupstation in a continuous row in horizontal position, parallel to oneanother and their ends aligned, the mouths of certain receptacles beingdirected oppositely to the mouths of other receptacles in the rows, thedevice comprising a pair of laterally spaced chain conveyors trainedabout sprocket wheels having a horizontal axis; a plurality of chuckassemblies mounted on said conveyors, the chuck assemblies beingdisposed in pairs, the one assembly of a pair being mounted on oneconveyor, the other assembly of the pair being mounted on the otherconveyor in a position aligned with the one assembly, each assemblycomprising a base substantially parallel to the link pins of the chainportion to which it is mounted, a tilt body mounted on the base withfreedom to tilt from a normal position parallel to said base into anangular position extending downwardly from said base, a stem mounted onsaid tilt body so as to be longitudinally slidable with respect thereto,and a receptacle chuck on said stem, chuck and stem being directedtowards the oppositely directed chuck of the opposite assembly of thepair when in said parallel position; means responsive to longitudinalmovement of said stem relatively to said tilt body for actuating thechuck; and means responsive to the position of the assemblies along theconveyor path for both tilting the respective tilt body and stem, andlongitudinally sliding said stem relatively to the tilt body, saidconveyors being so disposed as to straddle said pickup station to bringthe axes of certain chuck pairs, while in their normal horizontalposition, into axial alignment with receptacles within said pickupstation.

8. A device for upending open-mouthed receptacles arriving at a pickupstation in a continuous row in horizontal position, parallel to oneanother and their ends aligned, the mouths of certain receptacles beingdirected oppositely to the mouths of other receptacles in the row, thedevice comprising means forming a pair of spaced substantiallyhorizontal receptacle tracks extending towards a point of merger andmerging into a single track; transport means for moving receptaclesdeposited on said tracks toward said point of merger at a rate ofadvance equal for both tracks; a pair of laterally spaced chainconveyors, said conveyors being trained about sprocket wheels having ahorizontal axis to extend at least in part above said spaced receptacletracks; a plurality of receptacle chucks mounted on each of said twoconveyors, the chucks being arranged in pairs, one chuck of a pair beingmounted on one conveyor and normally directed toward the other conveyor,the other chuck of the pair mounted on the other conveyor being normallydirected toward said one chuck and aligned therewith, each chuck beingmounted on the respective conveyor with freedom of longitudinaldisplacement in the direction of the chuck axis and with freedom to tiltabout a tilt axis transverse to the chuck axis to bring the axes ofchuck pairs into vertical position in which one chuck of a chuck pair isabove one of said pair of tracks and in which the other chuck of thepair is above the other of said pair of tracks; means for actuating eachchuck to grasp and release, respectively, a receptacle at its mouth,said conveyors being so disposed as to straddle said pickup station tobring the axes of certain chuck pairs, while in their normal horizontalposition, into axial alignment with receptacles within said pickupstation; means responsive to the position of the chuck pairs along theconveyor path for actuating said chucks; and means responsive to theposition of the chuck pairs along the conveyor path for tilting thechucks, the sequence of action of said responsive means being to effectclosing of the chuck at said station, tilting of the chuck into verticalposition, opening of the chuck above said spaced receptacle tracks, andtilting of the chuck into horizontal position, said conveyor being sodisposed as to straddle said pickup station to bring the axes of certainchuck pairs, while in their horizontal position, into axial ali mentwith receptacles within said pickup station.

9. A e vice for upending open-mouthed receptacles arriving at a pickupstation in a continuous row in horizontal position, parallel to oneanother and their ends aligned, the mouths of certain receptacles beingdirected oppositely to the mouths of other receptacles in the row, thedevice comprising means forming a pair of spaced substantiallyhorizontal receptacle tracks extending towards a point of merger andmerging into a single track, transport means for moving receptaclesdeposited on said tracks toward said point of merger at a rate ofadvance equal for both tracks; a pair of laterally spaced chainconveyors, said conveyors being trained about sprocket wheels having ahorizontal axis to extend at least in part above said spaced receptacletracks; a plurality of chuck assemblies mounted on said conveyors, thechuck assemblies being disposed in pairs, the one assembly of a pairbeing mounted on one conveyor, the other assembly of the pair beingmounted on the other conveyor in a position aligned with the oneassembly, each assembly comprising a base substantially parallel to thelink pins of the chain portion in which it is mounted. a tilt bodymounted on the base with freedom to tilt from a normal position parallelto said base into an angular position with respect to said base andvertical with respect to the respective receptacle track beneath it, astem mounted on said tilt body so as to be longitudinally slidable withrespect thereto, and a receptacle chuck on said stem, chuck and stembeing coaxial and directed towards the oppositely directed chuck of theopposite assembly of the pair when in said parallel position; meansresponsive to longitudinal movement of said stem relatively to said tiltbody for actuating the chuck; and means responsive to the position ofthe assemblies along the conveyor path for both tilting the respectivetilt body and stem and longitudinally sliding said stem relatively tothe tilt body, said conveyors being so disposed as to straddle saidpickup station to bring the axes of certain chuck pairs, while in theirnormal horizontal position, into axial alignment with receptacles withinsaid pickup station.

10. Method of orienting open-mouthed receptacles arriving successivelyon a horizontally partitioned, vertically moving conveyor, thereceptacles being horizontally disposed, the mouths of certainreceptacles being directed to the right and the mouths of otherreceptacles being directed to the left; the method comprising graspingsuccessive receptacles by their mouths and swinging them through an arcof substantially to the right and to the left, respectively, dependingon the horizontal direction of their mouths, to upend the receptacles;then depositing the upended receptacles on a right and on a leftreceptacle track, respectively, which tracks are substantially paralleland spaced from each other within the zone of deposition of receptacles,thereby forming two parallel discontinuous lines of upended receptaclesin which the presence of a receptacle on one track is matched by a gapin the line of receptacles on the other track, and vice versa; andadvancing the two lines towards a point of merger to effect formation ofa single continuous line.

1 i 1 Q i

1. Method of orienting open-mouthed receptacles arriving successively ina continuous row in horizontal position, parallel to one another andtheir ends aligned, the mouths of certain receptacles pointing in onedirection, the mouths of other receptacles pointing in the oppositedirection, the method comprising, passing the row of successivereceptacles between two parallel series of successive chucks of equalspacing as the receptacles, the chucks being arranged in pairs, thechucks of each pair being axially aligned with each other and oppositelydirected to face the receptacles therebetween, the axes of successivepairs of chucks being aligned with the axes of a plurality of successivereceptacles, simultaneously moving both chucks of a pair towards eachother by equal distances sufficiently far for the one chuck of the pairto contact the bottom of the receptacle and advance the receptacle inthe direction of its mouth and for the other chuck of the pair to enterthe mouth of the last named receptacle; actuating the entered chuck tograsp said receptacle; then pivoting said entered chuck and receptaclejointly about a horizontal axis transverse to the receptacle axis toeffect upending of the receptacle while simultaneously moving saidreceptacle to points distant from the point of insertion of the chuck;and finally releasing the receptacle from said chuck at a distant point.2. Method of orienting open-mouthed receptacles arriving in acontinuously moving row in which the receptacles are horizontallydiSposed, parallel to one another and their ends aligned, the receptaclemouths of certain receptacles of the row pointing in one direction,other receptacles pointing in the opposite direction, the methodcomprising passing two series of chucks disposed to straddle the rows ofreceptacles between them, the chucks of said two series being arrangedin oppositely directed pairs to point towards the said rows ofreceptacles moving between them, the rate and direction of advance ofthe chucks along their paths being substantially equal to the rate anddirection of advance of said receptacles, at least within one portion inwhich the axes of certain successive receptacles are aligned with theaxes of certain pairs of chucks straddling said certain receptacles;advancing said certain chucks toward each other by equal distances andfar enough to effect longitudinal displacement of the receptacle in thedirection of its mouth by one chuck which engages the receptacle bottom,and entry into the receptacle mouth by the opposite chuck; activatingthe inserted chuck to grasp the receptacle; then pivoting the insertedchuck and the respective receptacle jointly about a substantiallyhorizontal axis transverse to the chuck axis to upend one receptacle,and simultaneously moving said receptacle to points distant from thepoint of chuck insertion; and finally releasing the receptacle from saidchuck at a distant point.
 3. The method of orienting open-mouthedreceptacles arriving successively in a continuous row in horizontalposition, parallel to one another, the ends of the receptacles beingaligned, the mouth of certain receptacles pointing in one direction, themouth of other receptacles pointing in the opposite direction, themethod comprising, successively displacing each receptacle of the row inthe direction of its mouth, then grasping in succession each receptacleby its mouth; then pivoting the grasped receptacle about a horizontalaxis transverse to the receptacle axis, the direction of tilt of thebottle whose mouth faces in one direction being clockwise, the directionof tilt of the bottle whose mouth faces in the opposite direction beingcounterclockwise, the tilt angle being substantially 90* so as to upendthe receptacle; releasing and collecting in one lane the receptacleshaving been pivoted clockwisely; releasing and depositing in a secondlane, spaced from the first lane, the receptacles having been pivotedcounterclockwisely; advancing in both lanes the receptacles depositedtherein at the same linear rate while maintaining the irregular spacesbetween successive bottles in each lane; and finally merging the twolanes into one.
 4. The method defined in claim 3 in which the pivotingdirections are such as to effect movement of the bottoms of oppositelyoriented receptacles away from each other.
 5. Method of orientingopen-mouthed receptacles arriving in a continuously moving row in whichthe receptacles are horizontally disposed, parallel, spaced from oneanother and their ends aligned, the mouths of certain receptacles beingdirected opposite the mouths of other receptacles, the methodcomprising, moving a series of pairs of mandrels alongside the row ofreceptacles, such as to provide a pair for each receptacle, one mandrelof a pair being directed against the receptacle bottom, the othermandrel of the pair being directed against the mouth, said pairs and thereceptacles between them being advanced at the same linear rate in adirection normal to the receptacle axis, then moving the mandrels ofeach pair towards each other sufficiently far to make the distancebetween the mandrels of the pair less than the distance of thereceptacle mouth from its bottom to effect axial displacement of thereceptacle in the direction of advance of the mandrel acting on thebottom; actuating the mandrels to grasp the receptacle by the neck,swinging the mouth-engaging mandrel and the receptacle jointly into avertical position, and finally releasing the receptacle from thevertically disposed mandrel.
 6. A device for upending open-mouthedreceptacles arriving at a pickup station in a continuous row inhorizontal position, parallel to one another and their ends aligned, themouths of certain receptacles being directed oppositely to the mouths ofother receptacles in the row, the device comprising a pair of laterallyspaced chain conveyors trained about sprocket wheels having a horizontalaxis; a plurality of receptacle chucks mounted on each of said twoconveyors, the chucks being arranged in pairs, one chuck of a pair beingmounted on one conveyor and normally directed toward the other conveyor,the other chuck of the pair mounted on the other conveyor being normallydirected towards said one chuck and aligned therewith, each chuck beingmounted on the respective conveyor with freedom of longitudinaldisplacement in the direction of the chuck axis and with freedom to tiltabout a tilt axis transverse to the chuck axis to bring the axes of thechuck pairs into vertical position; means for actuating each chuck tograsp and release, respectively, a receptacle at its mouth; saidconveyors being so disposed as to straddle said pickup station to bringthe axes of certain chuck pairs, while in their normal horizontalposition, into axial alignment with receptacles within said pickupstation; means responsive to the position of the chuck pairs along theconveyor path for actuating said chucks; and means responsive to theposition of the chuck pairs along the conveyor path for tilting thechucks, the sequence of action of said responsive means being to effectclosing of the chuck at said station, tilting of the chuck into verticalposition, opening of the chuck, and tilting of the chuck into horizontalposition, said conveyors being so disposed as to straddle said pickupstation to bring the axes of certain chuck pairs, while in their normalhorizontal position, into axial alignment with receptacles within saidpickup station.
 7. A device for upending open-mouthed receptaclesarriving at a pickup station in a continuous row in horizontal position,parallel to one another and their ends aligned, the mouths of certainreceptacles being directed oppositely to the mouths of other receptaclesin the rows, the device comprising a pair of laterally spaced chainconveyors trained about sprocket wheels having a horizontal axis; aplurality of chuck assemblies mounted on said conveyors, the chuckassemblies being disposed in pairs, the one assembly of a pair beingmounted on one conveyor, the other assembly of the pair being mounted onthe other conveyor in a position aligned with the one assembly, eachassembly comprising a base substantially parallel to the link pins ofthe chain portion to which it is mounted, a tilt body mounted on thebase with freedom to tilt from a normal position parallel to said baseinto an angular position extending downwardly from said base, a stemmounted on said tilt body so as to be longitudinally slidable withrespect thereto, and a receptacle chuck on said stem, chuck and stembeing directed towards the oppositely directed chuck of the oppositeassembly of the pair when in said parallel position; means responsive tolongitudinal movement of said stem relatively to said tilt body foractuating the chuck; and means responsive to the position of theassemblies along the conveyor path for both tilting the respective tiltbody and stem, and longitudinally sliding said stem relatively to thetilt body, said conveyors being so disposed as to straddle said pickupstation to bring the axes of certain chuck pairs, while in their normalhorizontal position, into axial alignment with receptacles within saidpickup station.
 8. A device for upending open-mouthed receptaclesarriving at a pickup station in a continuous row in horizontal position,parallel to one another and their ends aligned, the mouths of certainreceptacles being directed oppositely to the mouths of other receptaclesin the row, the device comprising means forming a Pair of spacedsubstantially horizontal receptacle tracks extending towards a point ofmerger and merging into a single track; transport means for movingreceptacles deposited on said tracks toward said point of merger at arate of advance equal for both tracks; a pair of laterally spaced chainconveyors, said conveyors being trained about sprocket wheels having ahorizontal axis to extend at least in part above said spaced receptacletracks; a plurality of receptacle chucks mounted on each of said twoconveyors, the chucks being arranged in pairs, one chuck of a pair beingmounted on one conveyor and normally directed toward the other conveyor,the other chuck of the pair mounted on the other conveyor being normallydirected toward said one chuck and aligned therewith, each chuck beingmounted on the respective conveyor with freedom of longitudinaldisplacement in the direction of the chuck axis and with freedom to tiltabout a tilt axis transverse to the chuck axis to bring the axes ofchuck pairs into vertical position in which one chuck of a chuck pair isabove one of said pair of tracks and in which the other chuck of thepair is above the other of said pair of tracks; means for actuating eachchuck to grasp and release, respectively, a receptacle at its mouth,said conveyors being so disposed as to straddle said pickup station tobring the axes of certain chuck pairs, while in their normal horizontalposition, into axial alignment with receptacles within said pickupstation; means responsive to the position of the chuck pairs along theconveyor path for actuating said chucks; and means responsive to theposition of the chuck pairs along the conveyor path for tilting thechucks, the sequence of action of said responsive means being to effectclosing of the chuck at said station, tilting of the chuck into verticalposition, opening of the chuck above said spaced receptacle tracks, andtilting of the chuck into horizontal position, said conveyor being sodisposed as to straddle said pickup station to bring the axes of certainchuck pairs, while in their horizontal position, into axial alignmentwith receptacles within said pickup station.
 9. A device for upendingopen-mouthed receptacles arriving at a pickup station in a continuousrow in horizontal position, parallel to one another and their endsaligned, the mouths of certain receptacles being directed oppositely tothe mouths of other receptacles in the row, the device comprising meansforming a pair of spaced substantially horizontal receptacle tracksextending towards a point of merger and merging into a single track,transport means for moving receptacles deposited on said tracks towardsaid point of merger at a rate of advance equal for both tracks; a pairof laterally spaced chain conveyors, said conveyors being trained aboutsprocket wheels having a horizontal axis to extend at least in partabove said spaced receptacle tracks; a plurality of chuck assembliesmounted on said conveyors, the chuck assemblies being disposed in pairs,the one assembly of a pair being mounted on one conveyor, the otherassembly of the pair being mounted on the other conveyor in a positionaligned with the one assembly, each assembly comprising a basesubstantially parallel to the link pins of the chain portion in which itis mounted, a tilt body mounted on the base with freedom to tilt from anormal position parallel to said base into an angular position withrespect to said base and vertical with respect to the respectivereceptacle track beneath it, a stem mounted on said tilt body so as tobe longitudinally slidable with respect thereto, and a receptacle chuckon said stem, chuck and stem being coaxial and directed towards theoppositely directed chuck of the opposite assembly of the pair when insaid parallel position; means responsive to longitudinal movement ofsaid stem relatively to said tilt body for actuating the chuck; andmeans responsive to the position of the assemblies along the conveyorpath for both tilting the resPective tilt body and stem andlongitudinally sliding said stem relatively to the tilt body, saidconveyors being so disposed as to straddle said pickup station to bringthe axes of certain chuck pairs, while in their normal horizontalposition, into axial alignment with receptacles within said pickupstation.
 10. Method of orienting open-mouthed receptacles arrivingsuccessively on a horizontally partitioned, vertically moving conveyor,the receptacles being horizontally disposed, the mouths of certainreceptacles being directed to the right and the mouths of otherreceptacles being directed to the left; the method comprising graspingsuccessive receptacles by their mouths and swinging them through an arcof substantially 90* to the right and to the left, respectively,depending on the horizontal direction of their mouths, to upend thereceptacles; then depositing the upended receptacles on a right and on aleft receptacle track, respectively, which tracks are substantiallyparallel and spaced from each other within the zone of deposition ofreceptacles, thereby forming two parallel discontinuous lines of upendedreceptacles in which the presence of a receptacle on one track ismatched by a gap in the line of receptacles on the other track, and viceversa; and advancing the two lines towards a point of merger to effectformation of a single continuous line.